ERASMUS (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students; EU mobility programme for participants in higher education established in 1987) is the EU-sectoral programme in the field of higher education. Being part of Lifelong Learning Programme since 2007 ERASMUS belongs to the second generation of EU educational programmes running up to the end of 2013. In line with the Lifelong Learning Programme the scope of activities of the ERASMUS-programme was extended to include working placements for students (hitherto part of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme), advanced training for personnel of higher education institutions and teaching activities of invited staff from private enterprise.

 

The following activities are in line with the programme's objectives eligible for funding:

Student Mobility for Studies (SMS) enables students at higher education institutions to spend an integrated study period between 3 up to 12 months in another European country participating in the programme,

Student Mobility for Placements (SMP) enables students at higher education institutions to spend a placement (traineeship/internship) period between 3 months and 12 months in an enterprise or organisation in another participating European country,

 Intensive Language Courses (EILC) give ERASMUS students preparing a study visit or working placement abroad the opportunity to study the foreign language concerned for two to six weeks, 

Teaching Staff Mobility (TSM) enables university lecturers as well as guest lecturers from private enterprise to spend a teaching period between 1 day - or at least 5 teaching hours – and 6 weeks at a higher education institution in another participating European country,

Staff Mobility for Training (SMT) enables teaching and other staff of higher education institutions to spend a period of training between 5 days and 6 weeks in an enterprise or in an organisation such as a higher education institution in an European country participating in the programme,

Curriculum Developmen Projects (CD) are addressed to the support of innovation processes and upgrading in the field of higher education teaching,

Cooperation Projects between Higher edeucation institutions and enterprises (CP) should promote entrepreneurship, creative thinking and innovative approaches as part of the curriculum for students and as a skill for teachers/ researchers. Operational aim is to reinforce the link between studies and employment needs,

Modernisation of Higher Education Projects (MHE) lay their focus on modernising study curricula, improving governance and optimising funding of higher education institutions,

Intensive Programmes (IP) are short programmes of study that bring together students and staff from higher education institutions in a multinational learning context. It can last from 2 weeks or 10 continuous full days to 6 weeks of subject related work,

Academic Networks (AN) contribute to enhancing the quality of teaching in higher education by means of cooperation within a transnational network between higher education institutions, university faculties and departments at times also involving professional associations and enterprises as well as other associations,

Preparatory Visits (PV) is to help higher education institutions (HEI) to establish contacts with prospective partner institutions,

Accompanying Measures.

 

The programmes operational objectives are:
intensifying transnational cooperation between European institutions of higher education,

improving and extending activities of student and teaching staff mobility within the EU,

improving the quality as well as stressing the European dimension of higher education,

The National Agency in charge of the ERASMUS programme in Germany is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): http://www.daad.de/en/index.html

For further information on the ERASMUS programme please consult the website of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc80_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc80_en.htm

See also:

studies abroad, certification of proficiency levels, European Union, students